May 06, 2019

Very Interesting

Andrew C.McCarthy is very interesting on just what may have been said to and by George Papadapoulos as a trigger to open Crossfire Hurricane.

This June 1, 2018 piece by John Solomon also has some intriguing background. We all knew that FBI informant Stefan Halper had "run into" Trump aide Carter Page at a Cambridge symposium in mid-July, prior to the initiation of Crossfire Hurricane on July 31. Was it just a coincidence that Page had just returned from his infamous trip to Moscow? Maybe! Per emails linked by Solomon, we see that Page was invited to the symposium in early June.

So back to the earlier discussion, I don't understand what it is about either Huber's or Horowitz's investigations that can be called a counterintelligence investigation. From all we've read, Horowitz's is an internal investigation about whether rules and laws were followed regarding the FISA process. Huber's seems from the docs we saw to be a criminal investigation based on Horowitz's referrals, or an investigation into whether a new Special Counsel is justified.

Mueller's investigation was the continuation of a counterintelligence investigation that was apparently wrested away from McCabe, and we've discussed the issue with Rosenstein's scope memo not specifying a crime. Therefore, I believe that Mueller would have had primary responsibility for questions about Russian disinformation in Steele's dossier, and so that leaves Margot Cleveland's question still open.

Imagine you're Mueller, early in the new assignment.

"Gee, who came up with this dossier? Oh, it was opposition research paid for by the Democrats using a cut-out law firm and claimed as a campaign expense on their disclosure forms. And who the hell is Steele, and where did he get these allegations? Russians, he claims?"

"Ok, I'll just put my nose down and try to substantiate each of his allegations, ruin a few lives, never investigate Steele or his Russian contacts, and hopefully catch Trump in an obstruction. After all, Huber and Horowitz are conducting the real counterintelligence investigation. Oh, they're not? They're investigating 'FISA abuse'?"

have had a breakthrough with my Paw. he and his wife watch MSNBC religiously, notably Ralph Madcow and whatever's on next.

i've been sending him clarice's pieces since my return home from his place last november. we weren't able to discuss politics b/c of the disinformation bog. he expressed regret over that wishing we could talk politics like we talk about football.

so i asked him if he'd be willing to read an outside perspective were i to resist any temptation to tirade against his "news sources."

he agreed. it's got him stumped. "why would these people be making things up and misleading the American people?"

I guess Horowitz may cover the Sussmann guy from Perkins Coie who was funneling opposition research to DoJ, but he wouldn't have interviewed him since he only has jurisdiction over DoJ employees. And it seems unlikely that Horowitz would refer Glenn Simpson for criminal charges, but we can always hope. Mueller didn't touch either of these guys, or their companies.

Why do you think I keep telling you there are two separate investigations? Mueller’s was a counter intel investigation to determine the veracity of the Steele Dossier as well as FARA violations. Horowitz/Huber is a criminal investigation into who all was behind the Steele Dossier, the FISA abuse scandal, and the illegal spying on Trump.

co-conspirators should lose their pensions, perqs and access to any more pay from a federal post or contractor gig. get the boot, no jail time. you are on your own.

vetting legit whistleblowers will be laborious. but Barr needs to cast a wide, efficient net to break the legal log jams.

the right pressures applied to higher ups like Rice and Brennan will activate the fear and loathing up and down their respective food chains--- rats have to eat every day. who's gonna sing for cheese first?

I like the idea of amnesty, but it would seem to be directed at, or most beneficial to, the fourth-tier folks. I get the impression that this entire scandal was very closely-held - maybe two dozen people - so there aren't many, if any, peons with operational details.

I caught nothing today, btw. I rarely do. I actually suck at fishing, but I like to change lures and cast and reel them in, fantasizing about the time I caught the big bass. I did, too. We didn't weigh it but my ex held it up while wearing a shirt with horizontal stripes and we later measured 22" from the pic. I'm not kidding. Wish I'd called the bait shop to ask them what to do. I didn't even have a scale, but I let the big boy go.

Please, Tom. We should stop meeting like this. I don't want to dis you.

Mueller’s was a counter intel investigation to determine the veracity of the Steele Dossier as well as FARA violations. Horowitz/Huber is a criminal investigation into who all was behind the Steele Dossier

Do you know what a counterintelligence investigation is?

Horowitz and Huber are interrogating foreigners or sending spies after them or investigating them through their own countries' intelligence depts?

It would be epic revenge from the beyond were "Margaret Thatcher" (what Biden yesterday said when he meant Theresa May, as a head of state who had called him to encourage him to stop that reprobate Trump) become the turning point against Biden's unholy ambitions. Plus neither May nor Thatcher heads of state--that was in both their cases Elizabeth R.

Ig suggested that Comey is a "total squirrel"; not to disagree, but I also liked an epithet I saw at Ace's place yesterday: "bin raccoon."

Just watched the Tiger Medal of Freedom presentation--all very nice, but interestingly Trump got one side of the fabric twisted (no big deal, easy to do), and then after Tiger's remarks, when his family comes up for photos, the first thing his mom does is to untwist the fabric! Moms!

TC:
Totally agree with your thoughtful posts.
Extraneous:
You are on fire today!
Agree 100 percent.
Great article by Atkinsson.
She is excellent.
Yes I believe the top dogs will have to pony up some penalty money , but Comey and McCabe and Strzok will get limited jail time and continue to believe that they did nothing wrong.
Don’t agree with the analysis of TomR.
This probe should never have gone on for 2 years.
It was not dependent on Manafort.

He finished 5th out of 6th. Better than last:) They are not a big team. Only two boys crews and two girls crews plus his novice crew. All the other schools have multiple teams. But he is growing and getting stronger. I expect a big improvement next year.

Horowitz and Huber are interrogating foreigners or sending spies after them or investigating them through their own countries' intelligence depts

Actually based on the second sentence you are the person that needs to confirm you understand what a Counter Intel investigation is. Who exactly do you think Horowitz and Huber focusing on in their investigation? Let me help you out. Their primary targets are not foreigners.

Rosenstein leaves the DOJ on May 11th which means he is free to testify before a grand jury. Horowitz IG investigation is supposed to finish in May/June timeframe. I will be disappointed if there are no indictments by the end of July.

Horowitz has had Strzok and Pages texts and emails for a long time now. Any new texts and emails getting released at this point have been intentionally withheld from the public for reasons we don’t know. The fact that the DOJ allowed Horowitz to give these texts and emails to Congress knowing that they would immediately get leaked to the public is a signal that the Trump team wanted the information to finally be made public.